Horror attack on two friends, leaving one dead, adds fuel to anti-GBV shutdown plan

Messina Moremi fights for her life in an intensive care unit at a Joburg Hospital. She was shot in the head twice while celebrating a new job with a friend. Promise Gadebe died in the same attack. The pair were found in an open veld near Protea Glen on Saturday. Messina had been to an interview on the Friday and was told that training would begin on Tuesday.| Thelma Moremi, mother of 27-year-old Messina Moremi, says her daughter is fighting for her life in hospital after she was found in Protea Glen with two gunshot wounds to the head. Video: Veli Nhlapo pic.twitter.com/U0VauGCmE6— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) November 14, 2025

The two were dumped on the open veld the following day. Lebogang Sikwane died in Meadowlands in a gruesome murder. Her family believes the perpetrator is someone they know. He has fled. The attacks on Gadebe and Messina are among the dozens of gender-based abuse cases reported in the country over the past few weeks. The petition was launched by the organization and reads as follows: “…until South Africa stops burying a woman every 2.5 hours, the G20 cannot speak of growth and progress. We demand that gender-based violence and femicide be declared a national disaster. Not tomorrow. Not at another summit. Now.” Gauteng police spokesperson Col Mavela Masondo said a case of murder and attempted murder has been opened in relation to the Protea case.He said an arrest had been made in Lebogang’s case.“The suspect was traced and arrested in Meadowlands soon after the incident was reported. He has been charged with murder,” Masondo. Sowetan cover for November 14. (Sowetan Sowetan) Messina’s mother, Thelma Moremi, said: “She was working as a teacher’s assistant and her contract was ending this month.”Last seen around 8pm Friday, Messina and Gadebe. She told a friend about an hour later that they would be back soon.“Thirty minutes later, he called again but this time both their phones went straight to voicemail,” said Thelma.Out of desperation, they posted the women’s pictures on Facebook and began receiving messages that two women had been found near the N12 in Protea Glen Extension 8.“That Monday, her brother and friend went to the hospital to check, and that’s when they confirmed it was Messina. I received a call from the doctor on Tuesday, asking me to come in. “He told me my child had been shot twice in the head, and the bullets damaged her brain from both sides. He said she’s on life support and that it would be a miracle if she’s still with us by Saturday,” Thelma said.Messina has two children aged five and eight. “We’re afraid to tell them about their mother’s situation. The older one has tears in her eyes and asks, ‘When is mommy coming back?’ We told her that she’s sick and in the hospital,” Moremi said.We’re afraid to tell them about their mother’s situation. The older girl has tears in her eye and asks. ‘When is mommy coming back?’ We told her that she’s sick and in the hospital—  Thelma Moremi“We’re trusting in God and praying. We just want those who did this to be found. How long will our daughters keep dying like this? Are they now targeting them in pairs?”By yesterday afternoon, Gadebe’s mother was still travelling to Soweto from Zimbabwe.Meanwhile, in the case of Lebogang, her brother, Thomas Sikwane, said the family was alerted to the killing by a neighbour.The body of the mother of three was found about 1km away from her home.“[The neighbour said] we must come quickly; they think it’s Lebogang lying near the school. As we were walking towards the scene, I could already see from a distance that it was my sister.”Thomas described his horrifying experience.“Her appearance showed she had fought for her life. She had been badly beaten. There was an open wound on her forehead, like she had been hit with something heavy. Maybe that’s what killed her,” Thomas said.Police told him they had traced a blood trail leading to the house of a tailor in their area.“He lives on the same street as us,” Sikwane has said.“Church people ask him to sew their uniforms; that’s why it’s so painful. We know his family very well.”Sikwane said it appeared Lebogang’s body had been hidden before being dumped near the school.“From the state we found her in, you could see these were not fresh wounds. Her face was swollen and pale. I believe she was killed earlier, maybe Sunday night, and only dumped there later because joggers saw her body early that morning.”The most devastating moment came when Lebogang’s nine-year-old son arrived at the scene.“We think he found out from friends at school or maybe saw something on social media. No one could stop him. He saw his mother lying there and he cried uncontrollably. That image will haunt him forever.”Thomas described her as a person of joy and love, deeply rooted to her faith.
2025-11-14 04:00:01